A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has charged the federal government to resuscitate the nation’s ailing refineries instead of acquiring the one built by businessman Aliko Dangote.
Agbakoba added that such a measure would save the nation from relying on the Dangote Refinery to produce and supply fuel for domestic consumption.
The erudite lawyer stated this on Monday in reaction to a statement credited to Prof. Itse Sagay that the constitution allows the federal government to take over the Dangote Refinery, pay him compensation, and then sell the products at the prices Nigerians can afford.
The human rights lawyer asked, “But why take over what a private individual built? Why can’t the FG fix its refineries all these years and make Dangote irrelevant? Why allow an efficient businessman to hold you to ransom when there is a straightforward alternative?
“The simple alternative for us all is this – let Nigeria work. Let there be light. Let there be food. Let there be water. Let there be jobs. Let there be money, schools, health care, roads, etc.
“This is how to render Dangote irrelevant and not as suggested by taking over another man’s sweat, even if the sweat is to cheat us. Let the FG do its own refineries and bluff Dangote.”
While commenting on the information that the Nigerian government has provided 186 metres at flow stations, he demanded more explanations from the government on the development.
He claimed that foreign companies significantly influence the oil sector to the country’s detriment.
“The announcement by the federal government that it will provide 186 meters at our flow stations is very curious and needs an explanation from the Minister of Petroleum.
“A flow station is simply a tank where crude oil is stored as it flows in the oil pipelines, awaiting export. The international oil companies are responsible for the flow of crude oil because they manage the pipelines and flow stations as operators.
“If the federal government wants to place meters at these flow stations to know how much crude we produce for export, it follows that nobody, apart from the international oil companies, can say what crude oil we export daily. Imagine you go to a fuel station to buy 10 litres of petrol, but the station has no meter.
“How do you determine how much has been sold to you? The information from the Minister of Petroleum confirms what I said that the oil companies have taken control of our crude oil resources and revenue.
“I thank the minister and urge him to protect us from these oil companies who have appropriated our crude oil resources,” the senior lawyer stated.